Viktor Stabnikov

Bio: Viktor Stabnikov is an academic researcher from National University of Food Technologies. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ferrous & Wastewater. The author has an hindex of 17, co-authored 50 publications receiving 1015 citations. Previous affiliations of Viktor Stabnikov include National Aviation University & Nanyang Technological University.

Optimization of calcium-based bioclogging and biocementation of sand

Abstract: Bioclogging and biocementation can be used to improve the geotechnical properties of sand. These processes can be performed by adsorption of urease-producing bacterial cells on the sand grain surfaces, which is followed by crystallization of calcite produced from the calcium salt and urea solution due to bacterial hydrolysis of urea. In this paper, the effect of intact cell suspension of Bacillus sp. strain VS1, suspension of the washed bacterial cells, and culture liquid without bacterial cells on microbially induced calcite precipitation in sand was studied. The test results showed that adsorption/retention of urease activity on sand treated with washed cells of Bacillus sp. strain VS1 was 5–8 times higher than that treated with culture liquid. The unconfined compressive strength of sand treated with the suspension of washed cells was 1.7 times higher than that treated with culture liquid. This difference could be due to fast inactivation of urease by protease which was present in the culture liquid. The adsorption of bacterial cells on sand pretreated with calcium, aluminum, or ferric salts was 29–37 % higher as compared with that without pretreatment. The permeability of sand varied with the content of precipitated calcium. For bioclogging of sand, the content of precipitated calcium had to be 1.3 % (w/w) or higher. The shear strength of biotreated sand was also dependent on the content of precipitated calcium. To achieve an unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 MPa or higher, the content of precipitated calcium in the treated sand had to be 4.2 % (w/w) or higher. These data can be used as the reference values for geotechnical applications such as bioclogging for reducing the permeability of sand and biocementation for increasing the shear strength of soil.

Halotolerant, alkaliphilic urease-producing bacteria from different climate zones and their application for biocementation of sand

Abstract: Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a phenomenon based on urease activity of halotolerant and alkaliphilic microorganisms that can be used for the soil bioclogging and biocementation in geotechnical engineering. However, enrichment cultures produced from indigenous soil bacteria cannot be used for large-scale MICP because their urease activity decreased with the rate about 5 % per one generation. To ensure stability of urease activity in biocement, halotolerant and alkaliphilic strains of urease-producing bacteria for soil biocementation were isolated from either sandy soil or high salinity water in different climate zones. The strain Bacillus sp. VUK5, isolated from soil in Ukraine (continental climate), was phylogenetically close in identity (99 % of 16S rRNA gene sequence) to the strain of Bacillus sp. VS1 isolated from beach sand in Singapore (tropical rainforest climate), as well as to the strains of Bacillus sp. isolated by other researchers in Ghent, Belgium (maritime temperate climate) and Yogyakarta, Indonesia (tropical rainforest climate). Both strains Bacillus sp. VS1 and VUK5 had maximum specific growth rate of 0.09/h and maximum urease activities of 6.2 and 8.8 mM of hydrolysed urea/min, respectively. The halotolerant and alkaliphilic strain of urease-producing bacteria isolated from water of the saline lake Dead Sea in Jordan was presented by Gram-positive cocci close to the species Staphylococcus succinus. However, the strains of this species could be hemolytic and toxigenic, therefore only representatives of alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. were used for the biocementation studies. Unconfined compressive strengths for dry biocemented sand samples after six batch treatments with strains VS1and VUK5 were 765 and 845 kPa, respectively. The content of precipitated calcium and the strength of dry biocemented sand at permeability equals to 1 % of initial value were 12.4 g Ca/kg of dry sand and 454 kPa, respectively, in case of biocementation by the strain VS1. So, halotolerant, alkaliphilic, urease-producing bacteria isolated from different climate zones have similar properties and can be used for biocementation of soil.

Phosphate removal from the returned liquor of municipal wastewater treatment plant using iron-reducing bacteria.

Abstract: V. IVANOV, V. STABNIKOV, W.Q. ZHUANG, J.H. TAY AND S.T.L. TAY. 2005. Aim: The application of iron-reducing bacteria (IRB) to phosphate removal from returned liquor (liquid fraction after activated sludge digestion and anaerobic sludge dewatering) of municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was studied. Methods and Results: An enrichment culture and two pure cultures of IRB, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia BK and Brachymonas denitrificans MK identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, were produced using returned liquor from a municipal WWTP as carbon and energy source, and iron hydroxide as oxidant. The final concentration of phosphate increased from 70 to 90 mg l" in the control and decreased from 70 to 1 mg l" in the experiment. The mass ratio of removed P to produced Fe(II) was 0-17 g P g"1 Fe(II). The strain S. maltophilia BK showed the ability to reduce Fe(III) using such xenobiotics as diphenylamine , m-cresol, 2,4-dichlorphenol and p-phenylphenol as sole sources of carbon under anaerobic conditions. Conclusions: Bacterial reduction of ferric hydroxide enhanced the phosphate removal from the returned liquor. Significance and Impact of the Study: The ability of the facultative anaerobes S. maltophilia BK and B. denitrificans MK to reduce Fe(III) was shown. These micro-organisms can be used for anaerobic removal of phosphate and xenobiotics by bacterial reduction of ferric ions.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an Emerging Global Opportunistic Pathogen

Abstract: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multidrug-resistant global opportunistic pathogen. The increasing incidence of nosocomial and community-acquired S. maltophilia infections is of particular concern for immunocompromised individuals, as this bacterial pathogen is associated with a significant fatality/case ratio. S. maltophilia is an environmental bacterium found in aqueous habitats, including plant rhizospheres, animals, foods, and water sources. Infections of S. maltophilia can occur in a range of organs and tissues; the organism is commonly found in respiratory tract infections. This review summarizes the current literature and presents S. maltophilia as an organism with various molecular mechanisms used for colonization and infection. S. maltophilia can be recovered from polymicrobial infections, most notably from the respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients, as a cocolonizer with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Recent evidence of cell-cell communication between these pathogens has implications for the development of novel pharmacological therapies. Animal models of S. maltophilia infection have provided useful information about the type of host immune response induced by this opportunistic pathogen. Current and emerging treatments for patients infected with S. maltophilia are discussed.

Applications of microorganisms to geotechnical engineering for bioclogging and biocementation of soil in situ

Abstract: Microbial Geotechnology is a new branch of geotechnical engineering that deals with the applications of microbiological methods to geological materials used in engineering. The aim of these applications is to improve the mechanical properties of soil so that it will be more suitable for construction or environmental purposes. Two notable applications, bioclogging and biocementation, have been explored. Bioclogging is the production of pore-filling materials through microbial means so that the porosity and hydraulic conductivity of soil can be reduced. Biocementation is the generation of particle-binding materials through microbial processes in situ so that the shear strength of soil can be increased. The most suitable microorganisms for soil bioclogging or biocementation are facultative anaerobic and microaerophilic bacteria, although anaerobic fermenting bacteria, anaerobic respiring bacteria, and obligate aerobic bacteria may also be suitable to be used in geotechnical engineering. The majority of the studies on Microbial Geotechnology at present are at the laboratory stage. Due to the complexity, the applications of Microbial Geotechnology would require an integration of microbiology, ecology, geochemistry, and geotechnical engineering knowledge.

Biogeochemical processes and geotechnical applications: progress, opportunities and challenges

Abstract: Consideration of soil as a living ecosystem offers the potential for innovative and sustainable solutions to geotechnical problems. This is a new paradigm for many in geotechnical engineering. Realising the potential of this paradigm requires a multidisciplinary approach that embraces biology and geochemistry to develop techniques for beneficial ground modification. This paper assesses the progress, opportunities, and challenges in this emerging field. Biomediated geochemical processes, which consist of a geochemical reaction regulated by subsurface microbiology, currently being explored include mineral precipitation, gas generation, biofilm formation and biopolymer generation. For each of these processes, subsurface microbial processes are employed to create an environment conducive to the desired geochemical reactions among the minerals, organic matter, pore fluids, and gases that constitute soil. Geotechnical applications currently being explored include cementation of sands to enhance bearing capacity and liquefaction resistance, sequestration of carbon, soil erosion control, groundwater flow control, and remediation of soil and groundwater impacted by metals and radionuclides. Challenges in biomediated ground modification include upscaling processes from the laboratory to the field, in situ monitoring of reactions, reaction products and properties, developing integrated biogeochemical and geotechnical models, management of treatment by-products, establishing the durability and longevity/reversibility of the process, and education of engineers and researchers.

Biomineralization of calcium carbonates and their engineered applications: a review

Abstract: Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICCP) is a naturally occurring biological process in which microbes produce inorganic materials as part of their basic metabolic activities. This technology has been widely explored and promising with potential in various technical applications. In the present review, the detailed mechanism of production of calcium carbonate biominerals via ureolytic bacteria has been discussed along with role of bacteria and the sectors where these biominerals are being used. The review discusses the applications of bacterially produced carbonate biominerals for improving the durability of buildings, remediation of environment (water and soil), sequestration of atmospheric CO2, filler material in rubbers and plastics etc. The study also sheds light on benefits of bacterial biominerals over traditional agents and also the issues that lie in the path of successful commercialization of the technology of Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation from lab to field scale.

Trace element requirements of agricultural biogas digesters during biological conversion of renewable biomass to methane

Abstract: The availability of trace metals as micro-nutrients plays a very significant role on the performance and stability of agricultural biogas digesters, which are operated with energy crops, animal excreta, crop residues, organic fraction of municipal solid wastes or any other type of organic waste. The unavailability of these elements in biogas digesters is probably the first reason of poor process efficiency without any other obvious reason, despite proper management and control of other operational and environmental parameters. However, trace metal requirements of biogas digesters operated with solid biomass are not often reported in literature. Therefore, the aim of this article is to review the previous and current literature about the trace metal requirements of anaerobic biogas digesters operated with solid organic substrates for production of methane.